ukulele

or u·ke·le·le

[ yoo-kuh-ley-lee; Hawaiian oo-koo-ley-ley ]

noun

1. a small, guitarlike musical instrument associated chiefly with Hawaiian music.

ukulele

/ ˌjuːkəˈleɪlɪ /

noun

1. a small four-stringed guitar, esp of Hawaii

ukulele

1. A small guitar , developed in Hawaii , with four strings.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ukulele¹

1895–1900, Americanism; < Hawaiian ʿukulele leaping flea ( ʿuku flea + lele to jump, leap), a nickname given to British army officer Edward Purvis (who popularized the instrument at the court of King Kalakaua), in reference to his lively playing style

Word History and Origins

Origin of ukulele¹

C19: from Hawaiian, literally: jumping flea, from `uku flea + lele jumping

Example Sentences

Jenkins played baritone ukulele, harmonica, hummed and used bird calls in her work while pulling influences from Spanish, Chinese, Hebrew, Korean, Swahili and other languages.

From Los Angeles Times

First loudly, with a ukulele, to convince her early-20th-century immigrant dad to spring for swimming lessons; later, softly, to herself as she prepares to become the first woman to swim across the English Channel.

From New York Times

“I’ve never stuck with any instrument other than the ukulele,” Monsoon says.

From Seattle Times

As an 8-year-old, he first taught himself how to play the ukulele that was stored under his father’s bed, but only when Daniel Kahikina Akaka, a U.S. senator and church choir director, wasn’t home.

From Los Angeles Times

In addition to the ukulele and slack-key guitar virtuosos, many other traditions have returned.

From Seattle Times